BEXHILL.- Warhol is Here at the
De La Warr Pavilion presents and explores the work of Andy Warhol in the context of his beliefs, lifestyle and above all, his legacy for the 21st century.
The Pavilion is also presenting a companion exhibition, curated and conceived by Jean Wainwright in the rooftop foyer of the Pavilion. This sound installation comprises of tape recordings of interviews taken over the course of an eleven year journey to find Warhol’s voice as told by others. The recordings, played on old cassette players, were gathered from collaborators, stars of his films, and his family. We hear his brothers John and Paul on growing up with Andy, as well as conversations with John Giorno, Gerard Malanga, Billy Name and Brigid Berlin, amongst others. From the way he talked, to his working methods and relationship with family and lovers, this installation provides a unique insight into Andy Warhol from Jean Wainwright’s archives and is accompanied by photographs and objects from her extensive Warhol collection.
Over 100 works are included in Warhol Is Here which features one of the artist’s most important works The Marilyn Diptych (1962. Considered to be one of the world’s most important pieces of contemporary art it was created at a time when Warhol was changing from being a commercial artist to establishing his reputation as a fine artist. Other works include prints from the Campbell’s Soup series (1968), a group of Brillo Boxes (1968) and portrait paintings including Gilbert & George (1975), Joseph Beuys (1980) and Robert Mapplethorpe (1983). There are drawings from as early as the 1940s, stitched photographs, Polaroid self portraits, posters and an entire gallery, papered with Cow Wallpaper, dedicated to late paintings from the 1980s, which includes Camouflage (1986), a spectacular four panel silkscreen.
The show is assembled from a selection of works from ARTIST ROOMS, (a new collection of modern and contemporary art held by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland for the nation), as well as those sourced from Tate collection, The British Museum, V&A, Cecil Higgins Art Gallery other private collections.
The Pavilion also created a programme of music, live performance, film, events and workshops inspired by Warhol and published a small handbook of essays by artists, curators, writers and musicians commenting upon the memory, influence and impact of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.
